RED STAR BOSS HAILS COPPEN’S PRESENCE
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood praised the impact made by new signing Curtis Coppen in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Newton Aycliffe.
Paul Gardiner gave Red Star the perfect start to the game when he fired them in front with just eight minutes gone.
Dan Wright found an equaliser for the visitors, but Mark Collingwood’s side claimed the points thanks to second-half goals from Dan WilsonandAndrewJohnston.
Coppen played a key role in helping Red Star plug a defence that head leaked goals over the past few weeks and helped them to a vital three points.
“The game was a mustwin game,” explained Collingwood.
“We didn’t play well if I am honest and we have played better and lost.
“Curtis Coppen made a massive difference at the back. He gave us a presence at the back.
“He is a footballing centreback and he just always wins headers. We have a good spine now and it’s solid.
“He is a different level and I have tried to get him for a long, long time.
“The performance yesterday was why we wanted him.“explained Collingwood.
Sunderland RCA assistant manager Mark Cowan bemoaned his side’s misfortune after their defeat at promotion-chasing Dunston UTS.
Scott Heslop put the hosts ahead within the first 60 seconds of the second-half as he grabbed his fourth goal in as many days.
Jordan Lavery got RCA back on level-terms just before the hour-mark, but it was Dunston that secured a win thanks to Mark Fitzpatrick’s goal eight minutes from fulltime.
Cowan told The Echo “It was a mistake at the end of the first-half and not taking our chances that cost us.
“It was a close game and we have hit the bar and the post, we just need a bit of luck.
“We couldn’t asked for much more from them.
“The effort and endeavour was there, but we are just missing a bit of luck.”
Ryhope CW looked to be on their way to another win as James Ellis’ first-half strike gave his side the lead as they headed into the last ten minutes of their game at Penrith.
But a header from Greek defender Angelos Eleftheriadis ensured that the spoils were shared at Frenchfield Park.
Consett remained at the top of the table, but only after surviving a scare to claim a point at Whickham.
Damien Stevens put the Lang Jacks ahead inside the opening 90 seconds of the game, only to see a stunning strike from Aksel Juul get Consett back on level-terms on 10 minutes.
Stevens doubled his tally to put his side back in front just before the halfway point of the first-half and Whickham held on to that lead until secondhalf injury-time when Consett captain Dan Craggs curled home a stunning free-kick.
West Auckland Town were 2-0 winners against Whitley Bay thanks to an Amar Purewal goal and a debut strike from new signing Mackenzie Heaney.
Shildon inflicted a second home defeat inside a week on Newcastle Benfield.
Dale Pearson’s long-range effort put Benfield ahead on three minutes, but Shildon took all three points thanks to a second-half brace from Billy Greulich-Smith and a goal from Brad Hird.
Stockton Town came out on top in a five-goal thriller against Hebburn Town.
James Risbrough and Max Craggs gave the Anchors a two-goal advantage at halftime but the visitors fought back to get back on levelterms with goals from Gary Shaw and Michael Richardson.
But Stockton exacted revenge for their FA Vase defeat against the Hornets when Craggs grabbed his second goal of the day on 74 minutes.
Jack Butler hit a hat-trick and defender Wayne Buchanan marked his 37 th birthday with a goal as Ashington marked the first game of Ian Skinner’s interim spell as the club’s manager with a 5-3 win at Guisborough Town.